So, you're looking at the Miami Dolphins and wondering who exactly is taking the snaps these days. Honestly, it’s a bit of a circus. If you haven't checked the box scores lately, the answer isn't as simple as it was a year ago.
Right now, Quinn Ewers is the man under center for the Miami Dolphins.
Yeah, you read that right. The rookie. The kid from Texas who most people expected to sit and learn for a year is suddenly the guy Mike McDaniel is betting his career on. It’s wild how fast things change in the NFL. Just a few months ago, Tua Tagovailoa was the undisputed face of the franchise with a $212 million contract in his pocket. Now? He’s holding a clipboard as the emergency third-stringer.
Why Quinn Ewers is Starting Right Now
The shift happened in December 2025. After a string of rough performances and a stagnant offense, McDaniel made the call that shook South Florida: he benched Tua.
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Ewers, who the Dolphins snagged in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, was thrown into the fire against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16. It wasn’t a "mercy" benching for an injury, either. It was a performance-based move. While Ewers has that massive "arm talent" everyone raves about, he’s still a rookie. He’s shown flashes of brilliance—he can make throws Tua simply can't—but he’s also looked like a seventh-rounder at times, struggling with the lightning-fast speed of NFL defenses.
The Tua Tagovailoa Problem
You can't talk about the Miami Dolphins quarterback without talking about the $54 million elephant in the room. Tua’s situation is, frankly, a total mess.
- The Contract: Miami is essentially stuck. Cutting Tua before June 2026 would result in a staggering $99 million dead cap hit. That’s enough to sink a franchise's budget for years.
- The Health: Everyone remembers the concussions. The 2024 season was especially scary, with another major head injury in Week 2 and a hip issue later on. While he stayed physically "healthy" for most of 2025, his production just fell off a cliff.
- The Depth Chart: Currently, Zach Wilson is the QB2. Yes, that Zach Wilson. He’s the primary backup, leaving Tua as the "break glass in case of emergency" option.
It’s a bizarre fall from grace. We're talking about a guy who led the league in passing yards not too long ago. Now, experts like Drew Rosenhaus are openly discussing the Dolphins trading up in the 2026 draft to find a permanent replacement, potentially targeting someone like Fernando Mendoza or Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
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Who Else is in the Mix?
If you're looking for Skylar Thompson, he’s gone. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers back in early 2025 after his contract expired. The Dolphins also experimented with Tyler Huntley for a bit, but the current room is strictly Ewers, Wilson, and a very expensive, very frustrated Tua.
The coaching staff is trying to maintain a "day-by-day" mentality, but the fans are restless. The "Greatest Show on Surf" offense that featured Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle torching defenses seems like a lifetime ago. Now, it's about whether Mike McDaniel can mold Ewers into a franchise starter or if the team is just treading water until they can escape Tua’s contract in 2026 or 2027.
What to Expect Next
If you’re a Dolphins fan or just tracking the team for fantasy, here is the reality of the situation:
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- Quinn Ewers will likely finish out the current stretch to see if he’s the "real deal."
- Tua Tagovailoa is almost certainly playing his final days in a Dolphins uniform, even if the money makes it hard to move him until the 2026 offseason.
- Draft Rumors are going to fly. Keep an eye on names like Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) and Ty Simpson (Alabama). The Dolphins have the draft capital (including three third-rounders in 2026) to make a move if they decide Ewers isn't the long-term answer.
Basically, the quarterback position in Miami is in total flux. It’s a bridge period. Whether that bridge leads to a Quinn Ewers breakout or a massive trade-up in the upcoming draft remains the biggest question in the AFC East.
For now, keep your eyes on the kid with the big arm and the rookie jersey. He’s got the keys to the Ferrari, even if he’s still figuring out how to use the clutch.
Actionable Insight for Fans: If you're tracking the roster for the 2026 season, watch the "Post-June 1" designation news. This is the specific salary cap loophole the Dolphins will likely use to finally move on from the Tua era without bankrupting the team.